I shot yugo 50's surplus and never had a problem. My gas port was pointing 6:30.
If I remember right, I initially shot S&B commercial and did fine, but I think I opened my port one click more toward 7-ish??? Hard to remember; I never went back after getting my hands on the yugo.
I shot a box of winchester silver box low recoil 8mm that a friend gave me and the Hakim didn't cycle well.

How does the Romanian work? Initially, my Hakim had cycling issues b/c of gunk in the chamber and would lock up trying to extract. For fear of returning to more time with the brushes, I always avoided lacquered ammo.

A slight hi-jack, but while we are talking about the gas tube adjustment, is it supposed to be tight? Mine turns very easy, and will unscrew, and come out if you keep turning it. It doesn't seem to have any "clicks", even though there are marks for it to line up with. Is there supposed to be some kind of a stop, or spring that I am missing?

The best ammo I have shot in my Hakim are the 1970's Yugo (orange primer sealant), 1980's Romanian, and 1990's M76 Serbian 8mm. The M76 is sniper grade ammo and can't be beat. Century is currently selling some by the case http://www.centuryarms.biz/proddetail.asp?prod=AM1634
Any other 8mm I have found to be either inconsistent in firing or too hot.

cheapshooter, there is a leaf spring that should fit around the valve. The spring is square-shaped, if I remember correctly, with some wings that set into detentes (fancy word for 'notches) in the housing of the gas valve.

Mine had been removed/fallen out/blown out (whatever) and was missing when I bought mine.
There's a guy named DelVecchio on gunbroker that sells all sorts of used parts. Get a valve adjuster and a leaf spring from him. Just search on "Hakim". I can't remember his handle. Nice guy. Probably $20 for each.

I like shooting Egyptian 8mm in my Hakims, but you don't see much, if any of it around.
I've actually shot it in NRA hi-power rifle matchs and did well.
There is a little FN made 70's 8mm that can be found from time to time and it shoots well and is non-corrosive to boot.
With the current selection 8mm surplus on the market the 50's Yugo is your best bet I would think.

I shoot my Hakim more than anything else because its so mutch damn fun!

As mentioned avoid the Turk , and all the Yugo red sealed primer stuff is great. I have shot the 50s but wasn't satisfied with it in my Hakim and would only shoot it if its all I had. I have had it blow a topcover in my 1919 and carried a 50s Yugo primer imbeded in my gut for several years. I have had it lose primers in my Hakim, too. Romy works and is the most plesant to shoot.

The tab on the gas adjustment may just be bent if it is, bend it back and it should be good to go.

I don't know if the Turkish 8mm is so "hot" as much as it has a weird pressure curve that makes semi-auto use sketchy. If I remember from back in my 8mm homework days, I think that the Turkish pressure curve is longer; the end result will be that the lugs release and the bolt begins cycling while the high point of the pressure is just being reached.
If my memory is failing me, I'm sure someone will correct me and I will be glad to be corrected.

My pet theory is that the longer pressure curve is meant to get the most out of the longbarrel Turkish Mausers. Again, people who eat Mauser facts for breakfast lunch and dinner will have the definitive answers.

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